40/40 Companionway Slider

[doncx]

The companionway slider on my 1995 40/40 (#17) has always been tougher to slide than I'd like.

Now approaching my 5th season with the boat, she's in great shape so I'm working on these little "nice-to-have" details.

The slider is a big piece of half-inch plexiglass, about 48 inches by 27 inches, and it rides on simple aluminum rails. There's no other mechanism.

Previous owners had greased the rails but it was all worn away from the bearing surfaces. I can only imagine that happens quickly. I've cleaned off the extra grease and it really makes no difference.

Does anyone have a suggestion for how to lubricate (or modify) this setup? Obviously, it shouldn't be *too* easy to move or it'll start travelling in a lumpy sea.

But it needs to be easier to slide than it is now.

Please reply if you have any ideas for how to manage this.

Thanks,

- Don

[dwight]

Google: "self-adhesive Teflon strips"

Remove the slider, clean underside with alcohol, apply strips, and replace slider.

[GeoffSchultz]

I've placed high density plastic on the rails, but Dwight's solution sounds easier. That wasn't a product option in Central America. However, I would place the Teflon on the wooden rails (assuming that we have similar builds) and not on the slider.

-- Geoff

[doncx]

Thanks Dwight and Geoff -

Geoff, it sounds like we have different setups.

The plexiglass simply sits on two aluminum rails. The rails are about 1/8" thick with a rounded top. So the contact surfaces are aluminum and plexiglass.

[jlodolce]

Have you tried PB Blaster silicone spray lubricant?